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SQL SERVER – How to Rename a Column Name or Table Name

Pinal Dave
SQL, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks
227 Comments

I often get requests from blog reader for T-SQL script to rename database table column name or rename table itself.

Here is a video demonstrating the discussion

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xviNDISwis]

The script for renaming any column :
sp_RENAME 'TableName.[OldColumnName]' , '[NewColumnName]', 'COLUMN'

The script for renaming any object (table, sp etc) :
sp_RENAME '[OldTableName]' , '[NewTableName]'

This article demonstrates two examples of renaming database object.

  1. Renaming database table column to new name.
  2. Renaming database table to new name.

In both the cases we will first see existing table. Rename the object. Test object again with new name.

1. Renaming database table column to new name.

Example uses AdventureWorks database. A small table with name “Table_First” is created. Table has two fields ID and Name.

SQL SERVER - How to Rename a Column Name or Table Name spRename1

Now, to change the Column Name from “Name” to “NameChange” we can use command:

USE AdventureWorks
GO
sp_RENAME 'Table_First.Name', 'NameChange' , 'COLUMN'
GO

Following Fig. show use of SP_RENAME Command

SQL SERVER - How to Rename a Column Name or Table Name spRename2

You can see the column name “Name” is now changed to “NameChange“.

USE AdventureWorks
GO
SELECT *
FROM Table_First
GO

Following fig. verify that the column name has been changed.

SQL SERVER - How to Rename a Column Name or Table Name spRename3

2.Renaming database table to new name.

We can change the table name too with the same command.

sp_RENAME 'Table_First', 'Table_Last'
GO

Following fig. Shows how we can change Table Name.

SQL SERVER - How to Rename a Column Name or Table Name spRename4

Now, the table name “Table_First” is renamed as “Table_Last”.

“Table_First” will no longer be available in database. We can verify this by running script:

USE AdventureWorks
GO
SELECT *
FROM Table_First
GO

The Messages shows an error “Invalid object name ‘Table_First’.”

To check that the new renamed table exist in database run script:

USE AdventureWorks
GO
SELECT *
FROM Table_Last
GO

SQL SERVER - How to Rename a Column Name or Table Name spRename6

You can see the same data now available in new table named “Table_Last”

Reference : Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)

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Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 22 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.

Pinal has authored 14 SQL Server database books and 94 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.

Pinal is an experienced and dedicated professional with a deep commitment to flawless customer service. If you need help with any SQL Server Performance Tuning Issues, please feel free to reach out at pinal@sqlauthority.com.

Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).

Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.

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